Queenstown

Need to know ...

Queenstown is one of New Zealand’s premier holiday destinations. With a spectacular setting offering vistas of lake and mountains, and a myriad of activities available, Queenstown’s popularity is not surprising.

Main Centres

Queenstown – stunning lakeside resort, great base for adventure activities.
Arrowtown – historic gold rush town.
Glenorchy – at the head of Lake Wakatipu, base for multi-day walking.
Cromwell – famous for fruit.

Getting There

By Air – Queenstown Airport, 10 minutes from town, offers domestic and international flights from Australia over the winter season.
By Road – 7 hours, 15 minutes from Christchurch to Queenstown. 5 hours from Milford to Queenstown. 1 hour, 50 minutes from Wanaka to Queenstown. Coach companies provide regular services.

Getting Around

Central Queenstown is great for exploring on foot, but there are buses available if necessary. A shuttle service operates between airport and town.

Eating Out

Exclusive

Gantley’s Historic Restaurant (Arthur’s Point Rd, Queenstown, t +64 3 442 8999) – in a beautiful historic stone setting.
Saffron (18 Buckingham St, Arrowtown, t +64 3 442 0131) – serious fine food in a friendly and relaxed environment. Enjoy al fresco dining in summer and a lovely big open fire in winter.
Postmasters House (54 Buckingham St, Arrowtown, t +64 3 442 0991) – built almost 100 years ago.
Coronation Bathhouse (15 Marine Pd, Queenstown, t +64 3 442 5625) – charming restaurant in a quaint heritage building.
Wai Waterfront Restaurant (Steamer Wharf, Queenstown, t +64 3 442 5969) – Queenstown’s only oyster bar.

Casual

Tandoori Palace (62 Shotover St, Queenstown, t +64 3 409 2845) – popular restaurant serving delicious Indian cuisine.
The Cow Restaurant (Cow Ln, Queenstown, t +64 3 442 8588) – historic restaurant renowned for pizza.
19th (Steamer Wharf, Beach St, Queenstown, t +64 3 442 4006) – on the shores of the lake.
@ Thai Restaurant (Level 3, Air NZ Building, Church Ln, Queenstown, t +64 3 442 3683) – authentic Thai food. Dine in or take away.
Fishbone Bar & Grill (7 Beach St, Queenstown, t +64 3 442 6768) – fresh and affordable seafood in a colourful atmosphere.

Sights

Arrowtown – a slice of history located 25 minutes from Queenstown. Once a bustling goldrush town, it is now a peaceful and picturesque village, featuring heritage buildings, a tree-lined main street, and inviting cafés, restaurants, boutiques and galleries.

Action

Jet boating on the Dart, Shotover or Kawarau Rivers – one of the region’s most popular activities.
Horse trekking adventures against a backdrop of superb – and rugged – scenery.

Relax

Play a round of golf at Millbrook Resort – set amongst stunning alpine scenery and offering excellent terrain to challenge players of any level.
Sample the region’s acclaimed wines. Grapes were first grown in Central Otago in the late 1860s. The region is now renowned for its Pinot Noir: it has won more gold medals
for this variety than any other New Zealand region.

THE experience

Bungy jumping in the place where it all began – from the original site on Kawarau Bridge to the Ledge Urban Bungy 400m above Queenstown or the extreme Nevis Bungy.